All year the art action spreads into galleries along Main Street where, while tennis shirt and "junque" shops exist in numbers for the tour bus set, quality art and goodies such as the $300 sweaters at boutiques like the Irish Shop can bust budgets. So wander at your own risk.
Shops, galleries and restaurants do change -- at least nine shops went belly up in 1993 when the Bank of America closed its local branch -- so it's difficult to recommend one over the other. However, the Nicky Boehme Gallery on Albion Street seems a long term survivor with its mostly representational shore paintings. Papa Birds, just down Albion, offers more kinds of bird feeders than Alfred Hitchcock could imagine and the Mendocino Mercantile has "one of everything." Just wander Main and Albion to find your own treasures. If you can't find it, ask. Local merchants help each other with referrals
Given the quality and price of goods in the best shops it's fortunate that free and inexpensive attractions like the town's two museums, walks on the headlands and beaches or simply rubber-necking down Main Street exist to balance economic tranquility. The Kelley House, at the shore end of Main Street offers a grab-bag of attractions from old time photos to one of the ubiquitous Mendocino windmills and water towers for it’s dollar admission. Their walking tours deserve of town are worth the time on a weekend stay. You can also take the self-guided rose garden tour -- the Chamber has maps.
The Ford House Museum at the Mendocino Headlands State Park end of Main Street offers a scale model of Mendocino c. 1890, fair exhibits of logging memorabilia and a small, but choice collection of Pomo Indian gear Flower buffs who live in the fog belt might want to visit in May when the roses bloom and the John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show in Fort Bragg offers more than 800 different varieties for show and sale Part2 After a Ford House tour whale watching from Mendocino State Park at the far end of Mendocino's headland offers spring and fall views of pods of migrating whales and, at least after the morning fog clears, wonderful vistas of the rocky coast. In early March the Annual Mendocino Whale Festival offers more than whale watching, there's wine and chowder tasting and marine art exhibits. Fort Bragg's Whale Festival in late March features microbrewer beer tasting and much else.
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